Persuasion (2007) (TV)

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel)
Simon Burke (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A new adaptation of Jane Austen's classic

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Reflection | Unrequited Love | Period Drama | Illness | Georgian

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sally Hawkins	...	Anne Elliot
Alice Krige	...	Lady Russell
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Captain Wentworth
Anthony Head	...	Sir Walter Elliot
Julia Davis	...	Elizabeth Elliot
Michael Fenton Stevens	...	Mr. Shepherd (as Michael Fenton-Stevens)
Mary Stockley	...	Mrs. Clay
Peter Wight	...	Admiral Croft
Marion Bailey	...	Mrs. Croft
Amanda Hale	...	Mary Elliot
Jennifer Higham	...	Louisa Musgrove
Rosamund Stephen	...	Henrietta Musgrove
Stella Gonet	...	Mrs. Musgrove
Sam Hazeldine	...	Charles Musgrove
Louis Shergold	...	Little Charles
Nicholas Farrell	...	Mr. Musgove
Joseph Mawle	...	Harry Harville
Finlay Robertson	...	James Benwick
Tobias Menzies	...	William Elliot
Brian Knight	...	Inn Keeper
Maisie Dimbleby	...	Mrs. Smith
Sarah Buckland	...	Nurse Rooke
Tilly Tremayne	...	Viscountess Dalrymple
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jazz Dhiman	...	Fashionable Gent (uncredited)

Directed by
Adrian Shergold

Writing credits
Jane Austen		(novel)
Simon Burke		(screenplay)

Produced by
Rebecca Eaton	....	executive producer: WGBH
Murray Ferguson	....	executive producer
Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo	....	line producer
David Snodin	....	producer

Original Music by
Martin Phipps

Cinematography by
David Odd		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kristina Hetherington

Casting by
Julia Duff

Production Design by
David Roger

Art Direction by
Nicki McCallum

Costume Design by
Andrea Galer

Makeup Department
Pamela Haddock	....	makeup designer
Teresa Kelly	....	makeup artist
Tony Lilley	....	makeup artist
Amanda Warburton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Hannah Cooper	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vicki Allen	....	second assistant director
John Burrans	....	third assistant director
Finn McGrath	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tony Bandy	....	dressing props
Bradley Godwin	....	dressing props
Tayyaba Irtizaali	....	stand-by art director
Josh Jones	....	stand-by carpenter
Jo Kornstein	....	property buyer
Alexandra Merchant	....	assistant art director
Erik Peterson	....	stand-by props
Ron Sutcliffe	....	stand-by props (as Ronnie Sutcliffe)
Zoe Wight	....	assistant buyer
Neil Wood	....	property master

Sound Department
Alistair Crocker	....	production sound mixer
Phillip Mark Freudenfeld	....	sound effects editor (as Phil Freudenfeld)
Peter Gates	....	dialogue editor
James Harbour	....	sound maintenance
Ben Norrington	....	supervising sound editor
Adrian Rhodes	....	sound mixer
Rob Saunders	....	sound trainee

Stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Eddie Armstrong	....	gaffer (as Edward Armstrong)
John Cooling	....	stand-by rigger (as John 'Buzz' Cooling)
Chris Davies	....	best boy
Peter Howard	....	focus puller (as Peter 'Skip' Howard)
Chris Samworth	....	clapper loader
Tony Sankey	....	grip
Francis Sparey	....	electrician
Francis Sparey	....	lighting truck
Rick Tombs	....	electrician
Rick Tombs	....	genny op
Anna Valdez-Hanks	....	camera trainee (as Anna Valdez Hanks)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lucy Denny	....	costume assistant
Nadine Powell	....	assistant costume designer
Sarah Touaibi	....	costume supervisor
Justine Warhurst	....	costume assistant
Gerald Moulin	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Simon Brook	....	on-line editor
Patrick Doherty	....	assistant editor
Kevin Horsewood	....	colorist

Other crew
Andy Baker	....	development executive
Pete Beighton	....	rushes runner
Helen Boyd	....	floor runner
Ella Brookes	....	production runner
Maxine Davis	....	production accountant
Fiona Francombe	....	location manager
Petra Fried	....	development executive
Jane Gibson	....	choreographer
Jacqueline Graham	....	assistant production accountant
Monique Mussell	....	production coordinator
Jennie Scanlon	....	production secretary
Janice Schumm	....	script supervisor
Lee Smith	....	location assistant
Tom Unwin	....	floor runner

Production Companies

• Clerkenwell Films
• WGBH (in association with) (as WGBH Boston)

Distributors

• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV) (2007) (UK) (TV)
• Masterpiece Theatre (2008) (USA) (TV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (2008) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• De Lane Lea  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Persuasion: A Jane Austen Classic (Australia)

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials) | 93 min (excluding commercials)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:G | Finland:K-3 | New Zealand:G

Filming Locations:

Assembly Rooms, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Clerkenwell Films

Trivia:

The green striped gown with velvet Spencer jacket Julia Davis (Elizabeth Elliot) wears at Kellynch Hall is the same costume Anna Chancellor (Caroline Bingley) wears at Netherfield Hall in "Pride and Prejudice" (1995). However, the bottom portion of the gown, cut on the bias, has been removed for the later film. This gown also appears in "Vanity Fair" (1998) worn by Vicki Pepperdine (Ann Dobbin) in the park scenes, and by an extra at the London party where Annabella Milbanke meets Byron in Byron (2003) (TV). The Spencer also appears, without the striped gown, in "Little Dorrit" (2008), worn by Emma Pierson as Fanny Dorrit.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: On the walk to Winthrop, as the camera focuses on Ann overhearing Frederick and Louisa's conversation, a crew member with a red jacket is seen in the background (at 33:38) behind her.

Quotes:

Sir Walter Elliot: Come, come Anne. We must not be late. You cannot have forgotten that we have an invitation from Lady Dalrymple.
Anne Elliot: I regret I am already engaged to spend the evening with an old school-friend.
Elizabeth Elliot: Not that sickly old widow in Westgate building?
Anne Elliot: Mrs Smith. Yes.
Sir Walter Elliot: Smith? Westgate building?
Mrs. Clay: Excuse me.
Sir Walter Elliot: And who pray is Mrs Smith? One of the 5,000 thousand Smiths everywhere to be met with. Upon my word, Miss Anne, you have the most extraordinary taste. To place such a person ahead of your own family connections among the nobility of England and Ireland. Mrs Smith.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Version of "Persuasion" (1960)

Soundtrack:

German Dance in D Major

Incandescently Charming Adaptation Will Set Your Heart Aglow

I was swept up by this brilliant adaptation from second one, when a young woman looked straight at me with melancholic eyes in an extreme close up. I was engaged, I was on her side and watched, utterly spellbound, as her story unravelled.

A clever script manages, with all the cuts and changes which are invariably part of all adaptations, to distill the spirit of Jane Austen's novel unerringly. Wonderful leads (Rupert Penry-Jones is a warm-hearted, dashing Wentworth and Sally Hawkins is a delightfully sweet tempered Anne Elliot) and an outstanding supporting cast breathe life and immediacy into the plot. Creative film making ideas give the production a fresh face and make for memorable, visually gorgeous film moments. The pacing is swift but never hurried. And last but not least, I loved the musical score!

Watching this sent me walking on cloud 9 for days. I have watched it several times since and am still discovering new marvels because there are many levels to explore in this gem. Don't miss it!